Putting stroke analyser

ABSTRACT

An analytical instrument for indicating putting stroke direction and putter-address deviation angles with respect to an intended direction of putt, including a freely movable carriage with paired sensors extending behind the carriage and linked with a pointer for indicating the angle of putter address prior to stroking and with a simulated golf ball pivotally mounted on the carriage and linked with a pointer for recording putting stroke direction; complete separation of function of the two angle indicating systems is provided through attaching each system independently to the carriage.

United States Patent [191 Rawson [451 July 30, 1974 PUTTING STROKE ANALYSER Robert E. Rawson, 9521 Harriet Ln., Anaheim, Calif. 92804 Filed: Dec. 12, 1973 Appl. No.: 424,183

Related US. Application Data Continuation-impart of Scr. No. 251,514, July 21, 1972, Pat. No. 3,788,646.

Inventor:

US. Cl. 273/183 C, 273/199 R Int. Cl A63b 69/36 Field of Search 273/183, 184, 185, 199,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1935 Stafford 273/185 D Campbell 273/183 C 3,788,646 l/l974 Rawson 273/l83 C Primary Examiner-George J. Marlo Attorney, Agent, or Firm-John F. McClellan, Sr.

[ 5 7 ABSTRACT An analytical instrument for indicating putting stroke direction and putter-address deviation angles with respect to an intended direction of putt, including a freely movable carriage with paired sensors extending behind the carriage and linked with a pointer for indicating the angle of putter address prior to stroking and with a simulated golf ball pivotally mounted on the carriage and linked with a pointer for recording putting stroke direction; complete separation of function of the two angle indicating systems is provided 7 through attaching each system independently to the carriage.

8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PUTTING STROKE ANALYSER This application is a continuation in part of my copending application for U.S..Pat., Ser. No. 251,514 filed July 21, 1972, for PUTTING STROKE ANALY- SER, now Pat. No. 3,788,646.

This invention relates generally to devices for measuring muscular effort and direction of muscular effort, and relates specifically to practice devices to be struck to increase skill in playing golf and the like.

My referenced application discloses a wheeled carriage having a longitudinal plate pivoted to the carriage at the forward end. A simulated golf ball is affixed to the rearward end of the plate. A first lever system or equivalent mounted on the plate pivotally engages a rigid post on the carriage in a manner causing deflection appropriately to the left or right of a first pointer when the plate is pivoted to the side by an offangle or off-direction putting stroke of the simulated golf ball. A second lever system or equivalent mounted on the plate has a pair of sensor rods protruding behind the simulated golf ball symmetrically on either side of the longitudinal centerline of the instrument and a second pointer arranged to deflect a proportional distance from center in a direction appropriately indicating any lack of squareness in putter address to the intended line i of putt. The invention of my referenced Application operates in an excellent manner, providing quick and substantial lowering of scores in actual play as result of practice with it.

A principal object of the present invention is to reduce still further the training time required with a putting analyser of the general type of my referenced Application, so that even very impatient and very unobservant golfers will find the device instantly understandable and foolproof. I accomplish this object by so separating the functions of putting stroke direction and putter address angle analysis that even deliberate attempts to cause a slight mixing of input angle in one analysing system with the output indication of the other analysing system will fail.

Further objects are to provide a very economical, rugged, sensitive and exact putt-simulating instrument, which is adapted for use in all the various putting environments from close cropped green to long fibre carpet.

In brief summary given for exemplary purposes only, the invention includes a freely movable directional golf-ball simulating carriage with two independent angle-indicating systems independently linked to the carriage.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following description, including the drawings in which, like numerals referring to like parts:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the carriage partly broken away and with a portion of the mechanism removed, showing the putter addressangle analyser system, partly in exploded view;

FIG. 2 is a plan view, partly in section and on a reduced scale, of the invention addressed by a putter.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 with a portion of the mechanism removed, showing the putting stroke direction analyser system;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIGS. 1 and 3 allowing the relation of the two systems;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation partly in section adapted from 5-5, FIG. 4, of the instrument assembled ready for use; and

FIG. 6 is a side elevation similar to the FIG. 5 view showing an embodiment with a skid system replacing the carriage wheels.

Turning now to the Figures in detail, FIG. 1 illustrates details of the carriage and one analytical mechanism of putting analyser 10.

THE CARRIAGE Carriage 12 is a longitudinal member having upper and lower parallel-spaced horizontal members; it is generally triangular in plan outline of the lower horizontal member or plate 14; the base of the triangle is preferably to the front and mounts three wheels 16 at the respective apices on parallel axles, making the carriage directional in movement parallel with the longitudinal centerline.

The forward end of the lower plate curves upward and rearward as a step 18 with an aperture 20 in the riser, and then continues horizontally back as an upper plate 22 integral with the lower plate, but preferably narrower, shorter, parallel-sided, and with a rounded rear end 24. The spacing between the two horizontal portions of the carriage protects and houses portions of the compactly inter-fitted mechanism of the instrument, preserving the vertical center of mass generally in line with the putting stroke and providing more direct transmission of actuating forces than otherwise possible.

Each of the two horizontal portions of the step has graduations forming a pointer scale, as described later.

THE PUTTER ADDRESS ANGLE ANALYSER MECHANISM FIGS. 1 and 2 best illustrate this system. Upper plate 22 of the carriage has underneath two perforated brackets 26, 28, laterally spaced an equal distance on either side of the longitudinal centerline of the instrument. Slidably supported in the brackets are respective sensor rods 30, 32, which protrude rearwardly beyond the rearmost structure of the instrument, a laterally movable simulated golf ball 34 (phantom lines) which is pivotally attached to the carriage in a manner to be described later. Slots 36 in the simulated golf ball permit it to pivot from side to side without touching the sensor rods.

The rear ends 38 of the rods are preferably rounded and the forward ends terminate in reduced-size vertical axles which engage respective journals 42 on the ends of a resilient crossarm 44. An axle 46 centrally fixed to the crossarm passes upward through a hole 48 in the upper plate which pivotally supports it, and terminates in a splined end 50.

A rearwardly extending lever 52 having a splined hub 54 fitting splined end 50 at the front and an upright pin 56 fixed at the rear end, engages the forked rear end 58 of upper pointer 60.

A vertical post 62 rotatively supported at the lower end 64 by plate 22 force-fits or is otherwise affixed at hole 66 intermediate the length of the pointer, and pivotally supports the pointer. The front end of the pointer lies over scale 68.

OPERATION OF THE PUTI'ER ADDRESS ANGLE ANALYSER FIG. 2 shows a putter P in static address to the instrument in preparation for a putting stroke. Depressing both sensor rods 30, 32 bends resilient crossarm 44, which resists the pressure, as will be apparent from FIG. 1.

If both sensor rods are equally depressed by the putter, the pointer 60 which is the only one of the two provided in the instrument responsive to putter pressure light enough not to touch the simulated golf ball, remains centered on a scale 68.

Depressing one sensor rod more than the other pivots the crossarm 44, rotating the link 52 and pivoting the pointer 60 about post 62, indicating the direction and relative magnitude of putter face misalignment on scale 68.

The crossarm, which may be of spring steel, is made weak relative to the forces exerted in stroking a ball in putting, so that it flexes under a putting stroke, allowing the putter to contact the simulated ball and move the instrument without appreciable change in the feel of stroking contact between putter and the instrument. Structure and operation of the elements of the putter address angle analyser artanalogous to those disclosed in my referenced Application, but it is important to note that no part of the mechanism touches any part of the putting stroke analyser, to be described next, both being mounted only to the carriage.

THE PUTTING STROKE DIRECTION ANALYSER MECHANISM FIG. 3 best illusu'ates this system. A post 70 pivotally secured at the bottom end in the centerline of the lower plate, as by having a reduced-diameter portion freely passing through a hole 72 in the lower plate and held by an upset end 74, passes freely through a hole 75 in the upper plate. The protruding upper end of the post is welded or otherwise suitably secured to the front portion of a horizontal ring 76, thus pivotally supporting the ring to the carriage.

Simulated golf ball 78 preferably. in the form of two halves 78a, 78b is secured to-the ring. The. lower half has clearance to permit the simulated-ball and the ring to swing as a unit from side to side through a relatively large are without striking the carriage.

An integral downward portion 80 of the ring at the rear center terminates in a forwardly extending tab 82. Tab 82 pivotally engages the forked end of an intermediate link'84 pivotally supported at the center about a vertical axis provided by pin 86 fixed at the upper end 88 to the upper plate 22. Link'84 pivotally engages the rearward, forked end of lower pointer 90, which in turn is pivotally mounted at an intermediate point to post 70 and extends forward through aperture 20-over scale 92.

OPERATION OF PUTTING STROKE DIRECTION ANALYSER alignment, causing tab 82 to pivot link v84 and thus pointer 90 in the direction of stroke misalignment. Degree of indication is made'toequal degree ofmisaligm multiplication in manufacture. The indication remains as the carriage travels away from the putter and to a stop, preserving it for convenient observation and leisurely collation with muscle memory.

FIGS. 4 and 5 indicate the relations of the systems as installed. In general, the actuating part of the putter address angle analyser system lies below the upper plate 22 and the compound lever system or upper linkage and pointer lie above it. The converse is true of the putting stroke direction analyser system which is actuated from above the plate by the simulated golf ball and the ring which is cemented to or otherwise suitably affixed it, and the compound lever system or lower linkage and pointer lie below the upper plate 22. The respective parts of the systems nest compactly together above and below the upper plate, and are protected from impact damage by the upper and lower plates and the simulated golf ball, which preferably is of semi-rigid plastic. The rigid ring, preferably .of metal or rigid plastic prevents impact-distortion of the simulated golf ball from.

giving a distorted angle indication.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment 100 of the invention similar to the previous embodiments but equipped with ski-like runners 116 in place of the wheels of the previous embodiment, adapting it for sledding over soft rugs and other extraordinary putting practice surfaces. The

-. runners may be attached by screws or pins 94, may be ment by matching the scale appropriately-to the-linkage removable for substitution by wheels similarly screwor pin-attached when desired.

Numerous instructive advantages will be apparent from the foregoing. For example, it can be seen from the foregoing that even such tricky errors as a slice of the putter face across the simulated golf ball coupled with an off-direction stroke which might, in combination, tend to urge the simulated golf ball straight ahead, will be recorded by the putter address angle system as an error, warning the user of a tendency to spin a real golf ball in putting, even though starting it off in the proper direction.

Obviously many modifications and variations .of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A putting analyser, comprising: means including first and second sensors laterally spaced in the putting stroke analyser for sensing putter face angle and for indicating, respectively, proper and actual-putter face angle when the putting analyser is addressed by a putter; means for indicating, respectively, proper and actual putter-stroke direction when the putting analyser is stroked by a putter; a freely movable carriage mounting all parts of said putting stroke analyser for movement with the carriage for thereby yieldingly supporting all said means for sensing and indicating putter face angle and putter stroke direction, said freely movable carriage comprising a longitudinal member having means thereon positioned for contacting a supporting surface, means thereon for mounting the means for indicating-putter face angle directly to the freely movable 2. A putting analyser as recited in claim 1, wherein the longitudinal member includes a lower horizontal member with said supporting surface contacting means thereon, an upper horizontal member, and a forward portion integrally connecting the lower and the upper horizontal members.

3. A putting analyser as recited in claim 2, wherein are provided a simulated golf ball positioned to be struck at the rear of the longitudinal member, a ring affixed within the circumference of the simulated golf ball, a vertical pivotal member pivotally securing the ring and simulated golf ball to the longitudinal member, a lower linkage having a connection responsive to pivotal motion of the ring, a lower pointer, means pivotally connecting the lower pointer to the longitudinal member, and means connecting the lower pointer with the lower linkage.

4. A putting analyser as recited in claim 3, wherein the ring is positioned above the upper horizontal member, a lower linkage is positioned below the upper horizontal member, said forward portion of the longitudinal member has an aperture therein, and the lower pointer extends forward in the aperture.

5. A putting analyser as recited in claim 4, wherein the ring has a tab-like extension, and wherein the lower linkage includes an intermediate pivotal member having connection at the rear end thereof with said tab-like extension of the ring and connection at the front end thereof with the lower pointer.

6. A putting analyser as recited in claim 1, wherein the laterally spaced sensors comprise respectively foreand-aft disposed elongate members, each having a sliding support affixed to the longitudinal member, a resilient crossarm connecting the forward ends of the elongate members, the crossarm having a vertical axle pivotally attaching the crossarm to the longitudinal member, an upper linkage pivotally engaging the upper end of the vertical axle, and an upper pointer pivotally engaging the upper linkage.

7. A putting analyser as recited in claim 6, wherein the longitudinal member comprises upper and lower horizontal members, a front portion integrally connecting all said horizontal members, wherein the vertical axle extends upwardly from the crossarm through the upper horizontal member with the upper linkage extending rearwardly from the upper end of the vertical axle, and wherein the upper pointer has connection with the rearward end of the upper linkage and extends forwardly to the front of the upper horizontal member.

8. A putting analyser as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for contacting a supporting surface includes at least one ski-like runner. 

1. A putting analyser, comprising: means including first and second sensors laterally spaced in the putting stroke analyser for sensing putter face angle and for indicating, respectively, proper and actual-putter face angle when the putting analyser is addressed by a putter; means for indicating, respectively, proper and actual putter-stroke direction when the putting analyser is stroked by a putter; a freely movable carriage mounting all parts of said putting stroke analyser for movement with the carriage for thereby yieldingly supporting all said means for sensing and indicating putter face angle and putter stroke direction, said freely movable carriage comprising a longitudinal member having means thereon positioned for contacting a supporting surface, means thereon for mounting the means for indicating putter face angle directly to the freely movable carriage, and means thereon for mounting the means for indicating putting stroke direction directly to the freely movable carriage independent of the means for indicating putter face angle.
 2. A putting analyser as recited in claim 1, wherein the longitudinal member includes a lower horizontal member with said supporting surface contacting means thereon, an upper horizontal member, and a forward portion integrally connecting the lower and the upper horizontal members.
 3. A putting analyser as recited in claim 2, wherein are provided a simulated golf ball positioned to be struck at the rear of the longitudinal member, a ring affixed within the circumference of the simulated golf ball, a vertical pivotal member pivotally securing the ring and simulated golf ball to the longitudinal member, a lower linkage having a connection responsive to pivotal motion of the ring, a lower pointer, means pivotally connecting the lower pointer to the longitudinal member, and means connecting the lower pointer with the lower linkage.
 4. A putting analyser as recited in claim 3, wherein the ring is positioned above the upper horizontal member, a lower linkage is positioned below the upper horizontal member, said forward portion of the longitudinal member has an aperture therein, and the lower pointer extends forward in the aperture.
 5. A putting analyser as recited in claim 4, wherein the ring has a tab-like extension, and wherein the lower linkage includes an intermediate pivotal member having connection at the rear end thereof with said tab-like extension of the ring and connection at the front end thereof with the lower pointer.
 6. A putting analyser as recited in claim 1, wherein the laterally spaced sensors comprise respectively fore-and-aft disposed elongate members, each having a sliding support affixed to the longitudinal member, a resilient crossarm connecting the forward ends of the elongate members, the crossarm having a vertical axle pivotally attaching the crossarm to the longitudinal member, an upper linkage pivotally engaging the upper end of the vertical axle, and an upper pointer pivotally engaging the upper linkage.
 7. A putting analyser as recited in claim 6, wherein the longitudinal member comprises upper and lower horizontal members, a front portion integrally connecting all said horizontal members, wherein the vertical axle extends upwardly from the crossarm through the upper horizontal member with the upper linkage extending rearwardly from the upper end of the vertical axle, and wherein the upper pointer has connection with the rearward end of the upper linkage and extends forwardly to the front of the upper horizontal member.
 8. A putting analyser as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for contacting a supporting surface includes at least one ski-like runner. 